Help teacher Melissa McGee Wells Keep Her Home

Life is full of joys as well as hard times. My dear friend, Melissa McGhee Wells, has brought joy to thousands of people in her 32 years as a creative, fun and dedicated teacher. 

Right now she is in the midst of a very hard time and needs our united help. Why?

Melissa's husband of 31 years, Randy Wells, passed onto Heaven on Father's Day, June 20, after a 6-year battle with colon cancer.   The loss of Randy  in her life and the lives of their children is a deep struggle emotionally and financially.    Here is the WHY to give...

Melissa has given 32 years of her life as an inspiring public school teacher in Knox County Schools, Tennessee. 

How does that breakdown to real people and why is this important?

Twenty-two of those years have been at West Valley Middle School.
She and I were founding teachers when it opened. We taught together and began the WVMS Student Council, which she still leads. 

In REAL kids' lives that's about 2,750 classroom students she has shown the joy of science through her creative hands-on style of teaching! Yes, 2,750 6th & 7th kids!  

The WVMS  Student Council has averaged 50-75 student leaders annually for 22 years.

That's another 1,650 young leaders who were encouraged, uplifted, &shown how to serve the school and wider community.  
1,650  leaders who learned how to solve problems that made our world a better place then and now.

 Many of these students are now parents and strong community leaders with children of their own. Some have even become teachers because of her inspirational teaching.  Others are spread across the United States and beyond using skills she taught them.

10 of her teaching years were given in elementary school - 5th graders.  Several years at Blue Grass Elementary and previously at Halls Elementary.  An important transitional year in learning how to love learning.    

That's at least 250 more kids.

One student from her 5th grade class at Blue Grass commented when she donated on Go Fund Me, that Mrs. Wells' teaching inspired her
to be the person she is today.  Most of us have that that one very special teacher--you are thinking of her/him right now.  The perfect reason to give to Melissa--to honor that memory.

 In 5 of her elementary teaching years, she and I were Student Council advisors at Blue Grass Elementary, averaging 40 very young student leaders (many whom we continued to work with through middle and high school).

That's another 200 leaders who have benefited from the joy of Melissa Wells' teaching and support.

 The total of young people she has impacted positively? 

4,850! 

And I'm not even adding in the multitude of parents she has supported and guided, which is at least 3,000 more people.
Plus, the many fellow teachers she has inspired and the interns she has coached.

As for her impact on me personally, we planned lessons together, taught children leadership, planned a multitude of events, traveled with students to leadership conferences, laughed, cried, pulled out hair together. We have an unbreakable bond of friendship. I am in much awe of and have gratitude for all she has given me and thousands around her and how she has prevailed through the last 6 years of Randy's illness.

Why tell you this about Melissa? 

Because I believe it is vital for us to see the impact that ONE very dedicate teacher can (and has) had on our community.  
I believe it's important to shower her with our appreciation when she needs it most.  NOW.
I am seeking the help of only 2,500 people to give at least $50 each so we can help Melissa right now in her time of great need and support as she goes through the biggest struggle of her life.  That's less than half of the number of kids she's impacted.

Of course, you are welcome to donate much more than $50 which will get us to the goal faster.

What is her struggle?

Again, Melissa's husband, Randy, lost his 6-year battle with colon cancer on Sunday, June 20, Father's Day. With his passing not only has she lost the love of her life and moral support, there is much to deal with:

°Complete loss of Randy's income (that loss partially started 6 years ago, but was 100% loss over the last year)

°A mountain of medical and credit card bills due to multiple surgeries and cancer treatments not covered by insurance. 

°The medical expenses alone are mounting to far more debt than her sole income covers. 

°Celebration of Life expenses.  I learned that can easily be $12,000!

°Lack of life insurance.

°Significant home repairs that need to be fixed, including a water leak, that will require much money.

°Mortage payment on her humble home that takes much of her monthly income. She told me she will have to move because she "cannot afford to stay here." Not only is this an emotional toll, but also a physical toll regarding selling and finding affordable living in today's inflated housing market. They have lived there for over 20 years.  Let's help her keep it.

°Melissa was working part time as a clerk in a mall store to help cover expenses in addition to teaching, Student Council advising (for which there is no pay), caring for Randy, and taking care of her kids.  
However, she lost that work due to Covid shutdowns and still does not have that employment back.
 It is a minimum wage job that requires continued standing after a day of classroom standing, all hard on her damaged knees. She's exhausted.

I could go on and on about the WHY we can  give now to help her.  Ask me if you want to know more.

This fundraiser's 100% goal is to raise $115,000 so she can pay off her mortgage thus keeping her in her home of 20 years, that holds the memories of her and Randy raising their children, Hayden and Piper. ( Both of her children currently live at home so this home provides stability for them all. )
Actually it would be perfect if we could raise $125K so the Funding Fees can be taken out leaving her with the $119,000 to pay off the mortgage.  

We all know that today's inflated housing market will let her home sell for more, but finding a smaller one level home is even more difficult to find with even more expense.   Her current home at least has a bedroom on the first floor which is helpful.

By raising $125K, as a community of people who care for her and who have been positively impacted by Melissa, we will reduce significant stress and allow her to move through the loss of Randy without having to make a move or take on yet another job.  

Together, Randy and Melissa made a great partnership helping many people in their lives--Randy through being a quality carpenter helping people have a home and Melissa with her teaching.  
We can give her a gift of love and security that honors Randy gift of home building by helping her keep her home.  We've got this!

I call on her former WVMS students, Blue Grass Students, parents, fellow teachers, graduated Bearden student, Knox County teachers, friends of Randy's who enjoyed the thoroughness of his carpentry work, church members and even people from afar who understand the enormous value and support this will be for Melissa and her children.  Thank you so very much for giving and for sharing this with others.